POLITICAL NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1285, 10 July 1886, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS.

[fEOV OtTE OWK COBEIffiPOHDSKT.] Wellington, July 9. This afternoon the amendments of the Legislative Oonocil in the Charitable Trust Extension Bill were agreed to. Mr Fyke called the attention of the House to an alleged breach of privilege in the throwing out by the Council of the Gold Duty Abolition Bill, alleging that the nominated Chamber had not power to *ej>cta proposed remission of taxation. The debate on the question was adjourned till Thursday. The motion for the committal of the Gisborne Prison Bill, and

the Destitute Persons Amendment BUI was carried, bat that for the committal of the Supreme Court Reporting BUI was lost on a division. At 630 the debate on the motion for the committal of the

Criminal Cote Bill was proceeding. In the House this afternoon Mr Thomson, Chairman of the District Railway Purchase Committee, brought up the following report;—The Committee report (1) That while the evidence adduced does not warrant your C jmmlttee in assuming that Mr Steward was directly influenced

by pecuniary f consideration in his efforts to-secure the passing of the District Purchasing Bill through the House, they are nevertbe'eas unable to conclude other

than that he considered that in all probability he would be able to bring about the sale to the Government or Insurance

Association of the Waimale, and possibly the Ountroon and Hakateramea, railway debentures, and thus secure by him large commission on the transaction ; (2) That Mr Steward, in conducting the negotiations, presumably attached Importance to his influence as a member of Parliament, as in bis letter to the Hon. E. Campbell, of date 28th September. 1885, soliciting the gentleman’s assistance in obtaining authority to sell the Dnntroon and Hakateramea railway debentures, !»• says—“ I have iofluencs in two different quarters which will enable me, I think, to pet a better price than anyone elae conld” ; (3) That It is manifest from ■ the evide' ci of Mr Peacock, and a director of the Hotoma Railway Company, that the Board appreciated the position an I const quewt influence of Mr - Steward as a member of Parliament In dealing with the Government for the sale of the Cimpany's debentures, and that the paym-nt of commission was apparently secondary consideration to that of securing his services in the conduct of negotiation for sale : (4) That your Cobmlttoo are of op’nicn thit while Mr Steward has avoide 1 technical breach of the Disqualification Act, they unanimously regard tne t-ansactioia referred to as calculated se-ioudy to reflect upon and impugn the integrpy of any member of Parliament engaged the'ein and to give rise, as has been ihe case in this instance, to public scandal ; (5) Thu it may fairly be assumed that had the Government dealt directly with the Companies, the amount of the commission might have been saved to the colonv ; (6) That it Is greatly to be regretted that neither Mr Steward nor Sir J Yogel, as appears by their respective evidence, recognises any Impropriety of a member of Parliament acting , as a paid agent in making a sale to the G jvernment,” Mr Thomson moved that the report He on the table and be printed, Mr Steward asked for the adjournment of [ the debate as he had only just received the report, and was unable to address ! himself to the subject at present. He, , however, held that the report was not at all justified by the evidence taken. Major Atkinson asked thit Government would agree to fix a day for the debate. The Premier ssid he had no objection to fix a date, as reflections were cast upon Messrs Steward and Peacofik and Sir J. Vogel. The debate might ho taken on Wednesday. This was agreed to. It is considered very peculiar that the Committee after finding as they do in the first part of the paragraph should, without any warrant express the opinion they do , that Mr Steward expected that the nego- , tiation of the debentures would bo placed in his hands, and there Is a preity strong opinion that political hostility, more particularly as towards Sir J- Vogel, has much to do with this. It is said the evidence attached to the report does not justify these reflections. I bear that Mr Peacock, on the assembling this evening, will make a personal statement with regard to that part of the report referring to himself, to the effect that part 13 Is not only not supported, hot contrary to the evidence.